Sonic Reducer

I’ve never danced harder at a concert than when Janelle Monáe opened for fellow Georgians Of Montreal in 2010; Kevin Barnes and company could barely follow her. Now with The Electric Lady, the latest installment of her seven-part Metropolis concept series, intergalactic genre-hopper Monáe is—to paraphrase one track—once again giving us more of what we love from her. Like a smoking hot duet with Prince (!) on “Givin’ Em What They Love.” And how about other stellar guests like Solange Knowles, Miguel and Erykah Badu? What about roof-raisers like “We Were Rock & Roll,” “Dance Apocalyptic,” and “Ghetto Woman”? And those exquisitely orchestrated space exotica overtures? All these elements coalesce on another out-of-this-world album from ArchAndroid Monáe. (M. Brianna Stallings)

Manchester post-punk/pop foursome PINS’ long-awaited full-length debut—at least by this obsessed journo—dropped on Monday, Sept. 30. Call it shoegaze-adjacent poppy post-punk. This is music for eating candied rose petals by candlelight. For having a picnic in an abandoned missile silo. Standout tracks include the anthemic title track (an ode to authenticity); the rockin’ reverb seduction of “Get With Me”; post-punk sonic jerk “I Want It All”; spoken-word warbler “Velvet Morning”; and yelp rock stunner “Lost Lost Lost.” One part torment and two parts anodyne. A thousand times yes. (Samantha Anne Carrillo)